Former Arsenal Manager, Arsene Wenger, believes that an African team would soon win the FIFA World Cup, citing African teams’ performance at the last edition of the championship in North America to buttress his point.

At the last World Cup hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico three months ago, nine of the 10 African teams made it out of the group stage, Egypt got to the round of 16, while Morocco made the quarterfinals.

Wenger believes that the enhanced technical awareness, proper planning and exposure to modern techniques could take an African team to the top prize.

Speaking on the Day Three of the ongoing CAF Strategy Conference in Cabo Verde, Wenger, who is FIFA Chief of Global Football Development, Wenger identified improved tactical discipline and organisation as one of the biggest reasons that nine African teams advanced from their groups.

“In the past, African teams sometimes lost because of a lack of compactness, too much distance between the lines and inconsistent concentration. At this World Cup, it was difficult to beat any African team because the discipline and organisation were at the top level.”

But the former Arsenal manager said relatively small technical differences remained decisive once Africa reached the knockout stages.

“We are very close, but a small percentage can cost you the game. Most of these games were lost by one goal, so every detail in the modern game becomes absolutely vital.”

Wenger also pointed to attacking efficiency as the next major area for improvement. “Africa has made a fantastic step forward. There is still another step to make. We want to see an African team win the World Cup, and the numbers show that it is feasible.”

He, however, warned that data should not become the only way football development is measured.

According to cafonline.com, Africa’s record performance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup and what must change for the continent to challenge for the title in 2030 dominated the final day of the CAF Strategy Conference in Santa Maria, Sal Island, Cabo Verde.

At the conference, which was opened by CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe and FIFA President Gianni Infantino, FIFA Technical Study Group member Otto Addo and FIFA Team Lead for Football Performance Analysis Aaron Ackerman presented a detailed technical review of Africa’s campaign.

The analysis showed that nine of Africa’s 10 representatives reached the knockout stage — the best progression rate of any confederation — but also identified small margins in chance creation, counter-pressing, penalty-box presence and late-game management that separated African sides from the tournament’s leading teams.

The technical discussion was followed by a coaches’ panel moderated by former Ghana international, Anthony Baffoe, with contributions from coaches including Mohamed Ouahbi, Sébastien Desabre and former Cabo Verde coach Pedro Brito “Bubista”.

The Conference was designed to turn the lessons of 2026 into practical steps towards the FIFA World Cup 2030.